Atlanta freight hauler shut down for safety violations

An Atlanta trucking company has been ordered to shut down after it stopped cooperating with an investigation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Southern Transportation Inc. failed to provide copies of company safety records to investigators, the FMCSA announced in a press release.

On March 25, FMCSA started an investigation, which remains open to determine the carrier’s compliance with federally mandated safety guidelines. That investigation has so far uncovered violations “so widespread as to demonstrate a continuing and flagrant general disregard” for compliance and safety, according to a shutdown order issued with the release.

The company does not require drivers to prepare and submit records of duty status or copies of driver qualification files, including proof of CDL, reviews of driving records and medical certificates. It also has not implemented a drug and alcohol testing program or a vehicle maintenance program. In addition, the company was found to have dispatched its vehicles to receive loads grossly exceeding weight limits.

Last week, FMCSA declared General Transportation Inc., a trucking company operating out of the same location and with the same business model as Southern Transportation, to be an imminent hazard to safety, shutting down the company.